Written Answers Thursday 20 May 2010

Scottish Executive

Culture

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any recent changes to its procedures for supporting future cultural events.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not made any significant recent changes to its procedures for supporting future cultural events.

Culture

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Scottish Opera and what issues were discussed.

Fiona Hyslop: I met Scottish Opera and the four other National Performing Companies on 17 May 2010. We discussed areas of mutual interest including the companies’ education work and international profile, the outlook for public expenditure, and scope for collaboration between arts and culture organisations.

Education

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to be able to provide parents, teachers and pupils with full details on the new structure of the SQA examination system.

Michael Russell: SQA have released details of the design principles for the new National 4 and National 5 qualifications and have provided information on how they are taking forward the qualifications development process. They will provide the details of individual qualifications as they are developed. All the key milestones for qualifications are set out in the Curriculum for Excellence programme plan and have been communicated widely.

Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are legal obligations on local authorities to provide free water to primary school pupils.

Adam Ingram: Yes. Both the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 and the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008 require that all pupils should have free, easy access to fresh drinking water at all times. The duty commenced in both primary and secondary schools on August 4, 2008. It is up to the local authority and schools to decide how this provision is met in the context of their school.

  The requirements under both the act and regulations are set out below:

  The Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 places the following duty on all education authorities and managers of grant aided schools:

  56B Regulations under section 56A: further provision

  (c) requiring that drinking water be made available for every pupil, free of charge, on the premises of —

  (i) a public school, or

  (ii) a hostel provided and maintained by an education authority for pupils.

  This is further supported by The Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008 which states that:

  Provision of drinking water

  5.—(1) Education authorities must ensure that drinking water is provided free of charge at all times, including during school meals, to pupils on the premises of–

  (a) public schools, and

  (b) hostels provided and maintained by the education authority.

  (2) The managers of a grant aided school must ensure that drinking water is provided free of charge at all times, including during school meals, to pupils on the premises of the school.

Further Education

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers the Scottish Funding Council has to intervene when further education courses are withdrawn after they have commenced.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Funding Council expects colleges to offer courses which are viable in terms of student numbers; offer a high standard of teaching, and are relevant in terms of the future employability of the student and the needs of the local economy. Within those parameters colleges are generally free to take their own decisions on the courses they offer and how they offer them.

Gaelic Language

Dave Thompson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is provided for adult learners of Gaelic.

Fiona Hyslop: Adult Gaelic learning is a central element of the action plan to increase the numbers of Gaelic speakers. This plan was prepared by Bòrd na Gàidhlig at the request of the Scottish Government. There is a wide range of support in place for adult learners of Gaelic from government, authorities and public bodies. Our aim is to ensure that this support is effective and results in an increase of opportunities and encouragement to learn the language for people in all areas and at all stages of learning.

Health

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned research into back pain in adolescents.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has not commissioned research into back pain in adolescents. The Chief Scientist Office does not normally commission research but supports research projects initiated by the research community in Scotland. No applications into back pain in adolescents have been received but good quality proposals that will add to the evidence base would be welcomed.

Justice

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31140 by Elish Angiolini on 28 April 2010, whether any such advice has ever been put in the public domain, notwithstanding longstanding convention.

Elish Angiolini: The Scottish Government is not aware of any occasion on which any such advice has ever been put in the public domain, other than in accordance with the routine release of historic files of which such advice may form part.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32937 by Kenny MacAskill on 20 April 2010, on what date it plans to publish Audit of Community Service in Scotland: Comparative Study and what plans it has to publish further audits of the operation of community service.

Kenny MacAskill: The Audit of Community Service in Scotland – Comparative Study will be published on 20 May and a copy placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49886). The audit findings will also be accessible on the Scottish Government website.

  We are working with partners who provide front-line community justice services to review the scope and collection of future criminal justice social work statistics.

Ministerial Meetings

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what external affairs issues will be discussed at the first meeting with the new Secretary of State for Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop: The First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth have already had their first meeting with the new Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Scotland on 14 May 2010 at St Andrews House. I spoke to the Secretary of State yesterday by phone, and hope to meet him in the next few weeks.

  The First Minister raised a number of issues with the Prime Minister including: the agenda of respect in government to government relations and the application of current funding arrangements in relation to; the fossil fuel levy, capital acceleration, Olympic regeneration funding consequentials and the proposals for borrowing powers recommended in the Calman Commission Report.

  When I meet the Secretary of State in the near future I hope to address the positive ongoing work of the Joint Ministerial Committee and Scotland’s role in Europe and EU Council Meetings.

NHS Hospitals

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the system of recording the incidence of norovirus in hospitals underreports the (a) number of cases of patients and staff affected and (b) extent of ward closures.

Nicola Sturgeon: The current Point Prevalence Surveillance system operated by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) provides data on norovirus activity across NHS Scotland on a weekly basis. HPS advise it is not essential to have every case reported in order to provide an accurate picture of the impact and geographical spread of norovirus outbreaks in Scotland.

  Given the high incidence of norovirus over the winter period, the Scottish Government has asked HPS to undertake a qualitative evaluation of how NHS boards managed norovirus to identify optimal systems, review guidance implementation and determine if there are identifiable high risk alert points for which specific control measures should be instigated.

  The findings of this evaluation will be used to amend existing guidance ahead of the norovirus season this coming winter.

NHS Hospitals

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the response rate is to the letters being sent out to referred hospital patients enquiring about their ethnicity, also broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally. However, NHS NSS Information Services Division’s (ISD) Equality and Diversity Information Programme (EDIP) monitors the level of ethnicity reporting from secondary care. The EDIP produces quarterly reports setting out figures for ethnic groups by NHS board (SMR00 for outpatients and SMR01 for inpatients and day cases). The reports are available at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5826.html .

Pharmacists

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to assist NHS Tayside to fill its vacant posts for hospital pharmacists.

Nicola Sturgeon: Recruitment to vacant hospital pharmacist posts in Scotland is a matter for NHS boards. However, where any board is encountering difficulty in recruiting to a vacancy, it is open to them to apply for a local recruitment and retention premium which allows the salary on offer to be increased beyond the nationally agreed rate in an attempt to aid recruitment and/or retention. No such applications have been received to date for pharmacists.

  I am aware of results from the Pharmacy Establishment and Vacancy Survey which suggest there are recruitment and retention difficulties in areas of Scotland amongst the more junior hospital pharmacy grades. Officials are currently conducting a full analysis of any issues and the results will be considered in partnership. Findings will then be included in this years evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body together with proposals detailing what, if any, further action is required.

Police

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what disposals were applied to people convicted of assaulting police officers in the Lothians region in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.

  Section 41(1)(a) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 provides that any person who assaults, resists, obstructs, molests or hinders a constable shall be guilty of an offence. Offences which specifically involve an assault on a police officer can not generally be identified separately from other section 41(1)(a) offences in the data held centrally.

  Following the introduction of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act in 2005, a new distinct crime classification of minor assault of an emergency worker was created. Section 1(1) includes offences by a person who assaults, obstructs or hinders a constable, member of the fire brigade or person acting for the Scottish Ambulance Service Board. These cannot be disaggregated into the type of emergency worker from the information held centrally, but have been included in the following table.

  Other assaults on police officers which may result in other charges such as serious assault or attempted homicide cannot be identified separately in the available statistics and so are not included.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Assaulting a Police Officer1,2 in Lothians Region by Sheriff Court and Disposal, 2004-05 to 2008-09

  

Sheriff Court/Main Results of Proceedings
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09


Edinburgh
 
 
 
 
 


Custody
43
45
42
42
54


Community sentence
29
55
54
50
57


Monetary
119
140
174
166
148


Other
25
24
38
25
45


Total
216
264
308
283
304


Haddington
 
 
 
 
 


Custody
4
4
5
5
3


Community sentence
4
4
6
5
8


Monetary
6
11
8
18
24


Other
2
2
0
1
5


Total
16
21
19
29
40


Linlithgow
 
 
 
 
 


Custody
13
6
16
14
13


Community sentence
13
12
14
17
16


Monetary
26
22
32
26
22


Other
2
8
3
6
5


Total
54
48
65
63
56


Lothians3
 
 
 
 
 


Custody
60
55
63
61
70


Community sentence
46
71
74
72
81


Monetary
159
180
219
213
200


Other
29
34
41
32
58


Total
294
340
397
378
409



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Main offences relating to offences under the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 section 41(1)(a), and the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 section 1(1).

  3. Includes a small number of cases where court unknown.

School Meals

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of primary school pupils is entitled to free school meals according to the most recent survey.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33428 on 5 May 2010 which provided the most recent survey figures for the percentage of primary school pupils entitled to free school meals. The 2010 School Meals Survey is not due for publication until the 29 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

School Meals

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of secondary school pupils is entitled to free school meals according to the most recent survey.

Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33430 on 5 May 2010 which provided the most recent survey figures for the percentage of secondary school pupils entitled to free school meals. The 2010 School Meals Survey is not due for publication until 29 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

School Transport

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities on the use of US-style yellow buses for schools.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has had no such discussions with local authorities, or requests for such discussions.

Scottish Court Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates that an increase in VAT from 17.5% to 20% would cost the Scottish Court Service in one year.

Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

Scottish Government Funds

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33003 by John Swinney on 28 April 2010, how much in European structural funding has been accelerated and how many jobs this is supporting.

John Swinney: The 2007-2013 European Structural Fund Programmes are not yet at their half-way point but about two thirds of the total budget has been allocated to projects. The Operational Programmes for the European Structural Funds in Scotland originally presented, overall, a profile of roughly equal commitments in each of the seven years. Approximately 80,000 people have been assisted to date, through training and support towards employment provided by projects supported by the European Social Fund. The latest forecast, from project sponsors, for gross jobs to be eventually created by the projects that have been allocated awards from the European Regional Development Fund is approximately 20,000. This includes 2,200 jobs from the projects for which funding was announced in April 2010.

Scottish Government Funds

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33003 by John Swinney on 28 April 2010, how much has been secured in additional European Structural Funds as part of the Economic Recovery Plan and how many jobs this is supporting.

John Swinney: The allocations to Scotland for the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund were fixed in Euros for the 2007-13 programme period. There has been no additional allocation from the European Commission.

Substance Misuse

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the organisation, Project Prevention, and what its position is on this organisation becoming active in Scotland.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is aware of Project Prevention and does not support this organisation. This organisation offers cash incentives to individuals who are having problems with substance misuse to commit to long term, and potentially permanent birth control.

  The Scottish Government and its partners are focussed on ensuring that appropriate advice, guidance and support on birth control and family planning services are part of drug treatment services, and are accessible to people with drug problems. Helping an individual to achieve sustained recovery and, if and when they are ready, supporting that individual to have a healthy pregnancy and to bring up their child in the future, is integral to national strategies such as The Road to Recovery (Drugs) and Respect and Responsibility (Sexual Health), and national frameworks such as Changing Scotland’s Relationship with Alcohol and Early Years.

Young People

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people were not in education, employment or training in the Lothians region in each year since 2008, broken down by local authority area.

Michael Russell: The Annual Population Survey (APS) is the official source for data on people not in education, employment or training. Table 1 shows the latest estimates from the APS, covering the period October 2008 to September 2009, of the numbers of people aged 16 to 19 not in education, employment or training in the Lothians region. Data is provided for the latest year and the previous year to allow for comparison. It has not been possible to break down these estimates by local authority area because the sample sizes in each of the local authorities are too small to provide reliable estimates.

  APS data for the 2009 calendar year (January to December) will be released on 24 June 2010.

  Table 1: Number of People Aged 16 to 19 not in Education, Employment or Training, Lothians Region, 2008-09

  

Year
Level


October 2007 to September 2008
4,400


October 2008 to September 2009
5,900



  Source: Annual Population Survey, October to September datasets.

  Note:

  1. Estimates are rounded to nearest hundred.

  2. The survey sample sizes for these estimates are small; hence the estimates are subject to a high amount of sampling error.